Windshield Replacement Issue with a lightbar

[Deleted member 28696]

I have a KC 50" Gravity lightbar with A-Pillar Mounts that have ditch lights attached to them. Went to go have Safelite replace my windshield and was informed awhile after I arrived that they won't touch it since it has a lightbar. They said I'd have to remove the lightbar A-Pillar mounts and ditch lights entirely then bring it back. They should really inform customers of this fact ahead of time when they schedule. Not a great consumer experience with Safelite but this is more of a heads up for people who didn't consider that this would be a problem prior to purchasing a light bar. In my case it wasn't too hard to remove it, I removed the bolts from the A-Pillar unplugged the light bar and ditch lights then took it off as one unit. putting it back on myself may be more of an issue without scratching the vehicle, it would have been easier with two people, you may have to Remove it & reinstall it quite often since the Jeep Windshield breaks easily.

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[JRobes]

You had something like this mounted around the front windshield blocking 80% of the area they had to work and thought it wouldn't be a problem? I hope you're kidding.

They quote the job based off a certain amount of time for a stock vehicle, they had absolutely every right to have you remove your stuff before they touched it, otherwise they eat the cost of the time to remove it for you and take on any liability of possibly damaging your aftermarket stuff.

 

[Deleted member 28696]

There always has to be some pompous a**hole on these forums. People don’t realize when they buy a light bar that this would be an issue. Mine doesn’t block the windshield at all It goes around it. You would think they could loosen the lights & make it work. My other complaint is that they should tell you ahead of time when scheduling, not after you arrive wasting the customer’s day. I found another place who works around these said they do it all the time. I put this out to make people realize & to be helpful. Your reply is just you being a jerk.

 

[Mr._Bill]

There always has to be some pompous a**hole on these forums. People don’t realize when they buy a light bar that this would be an issue. Mine doesn’t block the windshield at all It goes around it. You would think they could loosen the lights & make it work. My other complaint is that they should tell you ahead of time when scheduling, not after you arrive wasting the customer’s day. I found another place who works around these said they do it all the time. I put this out to make people realize & to be helpful. Your reply is just you being a jerk.

When you have a non-stock vehicle, it is your responsibility to ask if it's going to be an issue for them to provide service. It's not right to be mad at them because they don't want to assume liability for your aftermarket equipment.

 

[Deleted member 28696]

When you have a non-stock vehicle, it is your responsibility to ask if it's going to be an issue for them to provide service. It's not right to be mad at them because they don't want to assume liability for your aftermarket equipment.

Where in my post did I say I was mad? I said that they should have been told instead of having to guess at a company’s policy, people aren’t mind readers. Most people who have 4x4s have aftermarket lights & accessories, that’s a given. Just another passive aggressive response to a helpful comment.

 

[Mjolnir]

When I got my HPG windshield put in I removed my KC gravity bar as I figured the shop wouldnt want to touch it themselves/wanted to make sure they didnt strip any of the bolts or even drop the bar as it is pretty damn unwieldly. Never really thought about whether I would be turned away with it on or not, so I guess I was lucky with my thinking.

 

[Lunentucker]

They should've told you when you made the appointment.
You should've considered how your aftermarket accessories might be in their way.
50/50.
Everybody's learned something.

 

[Deleted member 28696]

They should've told you when you made the appointment.
You should've considered how your aftermarket accessories might be in their way.
50/50.
Everybody's learned something.

If their policy is not to work on something they should let people know ahead of time. People don't know their policies they should let people know. It's not like lightbars and accessories are something new. Most people with 4x4's have them so they should let people know that they will not work on those vehicles ahead of time. Instead of letting people down when they arrive to have the work done. It's not the customers responsibility to be a mind reader. People don't know ahead of time that they will not work on these vehicles, this is the purpose of my post.

 

[Lunentucker]

If their policy is not to work on something they should let people know ahead of time. People don't know their policies they should let people know. It's not like lightbars and accessories are something new. Most people with 4x4's have them so they should let people know that they will not work on those vehicles ahead of time. Instead of letting people down when they arrive to have the work done. It's not the customers responsibility to be a mind reader.

Did you read the first sentence of my response?
And their policy involves a healthy dose of common sense, which I do understand is in short supply these days.

Let's look at it another way.
Let's say you scheduled with Line-X to get the bed sprayed, but they didn't tell you to remove your tonneau cover.
That would be another 50/50 case.

 

[DCPHOENIX]

If I’m reading the OP correctly, you said they should have told you when you made the appointment? Did you tell them you had it on?

 

[sharpsicle]

I guess I don't know what indication the shop would've had if you never informed them you've added aftermarket things that are in the way of the windshield. So how would they know to tell you to take them off if they have no idea they're on there? They aren't mind-readers. When you arrived, they correctly identified an issue and asked you to remediate it. You're the owner of that responsibility.

Would you prefer they didn't ask you to remove them, tried to install the windshield anyway, and damaged things along the way? That would probably be worse. My response would be "ah crap, you're right, let me fix that for you".

A little common sense goes a long way, especially before you try and bash a company for just doing their job.

 

[Deleted member 28696]

I guess I don't know what indication the shop would've had if you never informed them you've added aftermarket things that are in the way of the windshield. So how would they know to tell you to take them off if they have no idea they're on there? They aren't mind-readers. When you arrived, they correctly identified an issue and asked you to remediate it. You're the owner of that responsibility.

Would you prefer they didn't ask you to remove them, tried to install the windshield anyway, and damaged things along the way? That would probably be worse. My response would be "ah crap, you're right, let me fix that for you".

A little common sense goes a long way, especially before you try and bash a company for just doing their job.

Almost all 4x4's have acccessories and lights this is something that they should know and state their policy before they have you come in or make an appointment they should ask. It's their policy not mine it shouldn't be up to the customer to know their policies ahead of time it's the company's responsibity to let the customer know before the appointment is scheduled. Like you said a little common sense on the company's part goes a long way. Btw no one is bashing a company just stating my experience with them and letting people know what they require.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

"Most people who own 4x4s"... not even close. Of all the people that have aftermarket lights, only a very small percentage have something other than bumper or cowl lights... both still allow full access to the windshield.

I agree with the above statement, in that YOU failed your due diligence in asking about your custom aftermarket parts before your appointment. Why should they have to assume that all vehicles are heavily modified, when in reality probably less than 1% are modified in such a way that will affect their job...

Did you read their policies before going to your appointment?

 

[Deleted member 28696]

"Most people who own 4x4s"... not even close. Of all the people that have aftermarket lights, only a very small percentage have something other than bumper or cowl lights... both still allow full access to the windshield.

I agree with the above statement, in that YOU failed your due diligence in asking about your custom aftermarket parts before your appointment. Why should they have to assume that all vehicles are heavily modified, when in reality probably less than 1% are modified in such a way that will affect their job...

Did you read their policies before going to your appointment?

If it's their policy they should state it before the appointment is made, there is no due dilligence required since I'm the paying customer. it's their policy and therefore their responsibility to state their policy before the appointment is made. How could a person know beforehand if it's not stated. It's really a stupid statement on your part. There is no fine print to read before making an appointment which is my point. They should state on their website & at time of appointment that removal of aftermarket light bars is required for service. This gives time for the customer to make arrangements to remove the light bar instead of being told we can't work on it after you have waited a week or more. It also benefits the company so that they don't make a wasted trip to a customer site.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

My thought process might be different than a lot of people.
I would have thought... dang I should have thought about that, makes sense, I'll handle it and bring it back.
I wouldn't have even considered that I'm a victim and it's all their fault. They should have notified me I'm a paying customer and they suck.
Everybody wants to be a victim today, I guess it's easier than stepping up and taking responsibility.

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